African Union says Eritrea can have a mission in Addis Ababa

February 4, 2010 (ADDIS ABABA) –African Union chief, Jean Ping, dismissed accusations that Ethiopia has blocked the right of Eritrea to establish an office for its mission to the AU in Addis Ababa.

Asmara said in a letter circulated during the 14th AU summit Eritrea has been banned for the last 10 years from its right to participate in African Union summits and other meetings in Addis Ababa by Ethiopian refusal to extend proper diplomatic and security guarantee.

Eritrea also called on the African Union to stop holding its summits and other meetings in Addis Ababa.

In his reply to the Eritrean Foreign Affairs Minister, Osman Saleh, the Chairperson of the African UN Commission said that “Ethiopia should never been accused for Eritrea’s denial using its rights to take part in AU deliberation,” the official ENA reported on Thursday.

Ping said the commission had discussed the issues with government of Ethiopia at highest level and has accepted a categorical assurance that the Eritrean government is free to establish a mission to the AU in Addis Ababa.

Eritrea and Ethiopia fought a bloody war between1998-2000 which killed 80,000 people. The conflict between the two countries started when the two neighbors disputed over the small border town of Badme.

Ping said the former chairperson had also informed Eritrea that it has the right to participate in AU sessions in Addis Ababa.

The AU chief was referring to a letter by the former Chairperson Alpha Omar Konare to the Eritrean government that its mission will be accredit only to the African Union, will not have or carry out bilateral activities and the staff will operate from Addis Ababa only where the AU headquarters is located.

The 14th African Union Summit voiced support to UN imposed sanction and condemned Asmara to its negative roles in regional stability.

(ST)